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tatayeah

Member
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
5
Hi there,

I've played 2 stingrays 5 in the past and remember that the neck profiles were different (the fingerboard was different too, maple & rosewood).

So my question is: Was there different stingray 5 neck profiles over the years? If yes, is there an official documentation of this?

Thanks!
 

nicjimbass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
223
I noticed this as well. I have a 2000 SR5 H, maple, and had an 06 SR5 HH, rosewood, and the necks definitely felt different.
 

oli@bass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
Me too, on the StingRay 4. Maple necks often seem to feel "beefier" to me. But then again, every neck feels a bit different. My Black Sparkle from 2000 feels much slimmer than all other rosewood board necks. And I had a 1996 20th Anni with maple board that felt definitely thicker than its twin with exactly the same specs. I think what we feel might also be a result of the setup (string action) and how the neck surface feels. My 2007 DD definitely felt much better after I gave her a proper neck treatment two days before I sold her...

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24yWr2LRmJY"]YouTube- Caring for your Music Man neck & Fretboard[/nomedia]
 

Moondog

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Joined
Jan 15, 2004
Messages
1,466
Location
Red Bank, NJ
Me too, on the StingRay 4. Maple necks often seem to feel "beefier" to me. But then again, every neck feels a bit different.

I agree! Thought it was just me until I brought a micrometer home and measured - my Classic/Maple is definitely chunkier than my Classic/Rosewood; was only a few mms different but very noticeable when playing. My 94 Maple is also beefier than my 92 rosewood. Maybe just coincidence; man made instruments have variability; guess it depends on who's doing the hand sanding...

I've seen some fair necks at GC but the necks on both my Classics are stunning, just not sure I like the vintage 7.5 as much as the standard radius...time will tell...
 

rhythmCity944

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2007
Messages
560
Location
Atlanta, GA
I'm pretty sure since most of the necks are hand finished that there will be many differences...Nature of the beast...also a good set up can make any bass feel different

I will say that I've owned and played many late model stingrays and compaired to my late 80's necks, they felt thicker...
 

nicjimbass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
223
My comparison seems to match others- maple neck was chunkier than rosewood/maple.
 

five7

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Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
4,295
I found the opposite to be true with the two 4 string rays I owned. The maple one was thinner and faster. :D
 

bovinehost

Administrator
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
18,190
Location
Dall-Ass, TX
I've had about, oh, a million Stingray 5s and haven't noticed much difference besides maybe the setup.

Of course, I'm a caveman and not as sensitive as you little flowers.

:)

Jack
 

ialma

New member
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
2
It's probably been done to death and I have done some search without answers before posting this.
I bought a Stingray and a Sterling.
I'm A-B ing them but I've been surprised by the fact that apart from neck width at nut (the sterling narrower than the SR), the stingray neck profile is way much thinner than sterling's (which has not a baseball bat but is very very far from my idea of a thin neck) while I have been told it was the exact opposite. Any idea?
I've been told that it's a matter of production years.
The Sterling (maple board) has been built in 1999 and the Stingray (rosewood) is much more recent (2005-2006)
If someone could shed some light on the subject it would be greatly appriciated, It sounds weird to me to accept the difference of 2mm in neck profiles as casual.
 

ialma

New member
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
2
Mine is : is the neck profile something casual left to the finishing stage of the bass ?
Can two Stingrays have different neck profiles depending on the employee who finished them ?
(sounds definately absurd to me anyway)

So my question is: Was there different stingray 5 neck profiles over the years? If yes, is there an official documentation of this?

Thanks!
 

Dasgre0g

Active member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
40
Location
Austin, Texas
I have had many stingrays as well...4 and 5's over the years. I also think it is definitely the setup. String style and weight also seems to influence it too...oh and how often you switch from say 4 to 5 as well.
 

Moondog

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 15, 2004
Messages
1,466
Location
Red Bank, NJ
IME, yes.

me too - I currently have 6 SR4s right now and no two are identical using a micrometer but some you couldn't tell by hand. My '00 is super thin/shallow, my '05 profile is between a Ray and Sterling, and my Classic is almost a boat neck! Love them all . . .
 
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